Just one year ago, the first sods of soil were turned on the site of the new Green Point Stadium. The venue for Cape Town’s 2010 FIFA World Cup matches has steadily taken shape since then, and is one third complete and on schedule.
To mark this milestone, Mayor Helen Zille, City of Cape Town and Murray & Roberts/WBHO joint venture representatives donned hard hats and walked onto the future pitch to inspect the progress, and thank the construction workers.
“It’s a big moment for me,” said Zille. “We’re seeing extraordinary results, beyond expectations.”
She cited the numerous challenges the City has faced in the run-up to the first anniversary celebration - from tough approval processes which were met with appeals and legal action; signing the contract to build the stadium without a proper business plan in place; conducting a study to find the most feasible site within various constraints; the first tenders being R1-billion over budget; reworking the design while still complying with FIFA specifications and the Environmental Record of Decision; to losing six construction days due to a labour dispute, as well as being affected by winter rains and wind.
“If these processes went wrong, we would not be here today. We would not be a World Cup host city,” Zille said.“Many committed people worked tirelessly to overcome these obstacles. We ran processes in parallel. We took the problems head on. This is how all service delivery should work.”
The business plan had to be executed as a matter of urgency, and the City “took a lot of flack” for asking difficult questions, Zille said. “I am glad we asked those questions up front. It helped us to avoid serious financial risks further down the line.”
Now, the project is on track for a FIFA inspection in October 2009 and completion on 14 December 2009, six months ahead of kick-off on 11 June 2010 – or just over 800 days away.
Zille thanked all those involved in making it happen – from City and provincial officials to the 2010 Local Organising Committee to the joint venture construction company and the workers. The City will sponsor a site braai for the 2000 construction workers.
Funding gap
During her Council speech on 27 March 2008, the Mayor also thanked the national and provincial governments for their major financial contribution to the stadium.
"We are confident that, with their help, we can bridge the remaining funding gap of some R500-million." The gap is due to cost increases in building material and sub contracts, as a result of the booming construction industry. This is a national problem, she added.
Selling the naming rights of the stadium, cost-saving engineering and advance ticket sales will help manage the costs of the project.
The City has capped its contribution for the stadium R500-million. "We cannot burden ratepayers beyond that."
"This multi-purpose stadium must pay its way. It should also fund the maintenance of the surrounding Green Point urban park and sports precinct," Zille said.
Taking stock
Zille said the first anniversary provided an opportunity to "take stock on how we came this far and what lies ahead".
The City hopes to award the long-term operator and naming rights contracts by the middle of the year.
The first of the three tiers of seating is nearly finished, while the tender for the high-tech noise reducing roof has been awarded.
Construction of the stadium is just one aspect of the City and province’s 2010 planning. Major road and transport upgrades are underway, and operational planning is ongoing.
“The biggest challenge is public cynicism – the disbelief that we could do it. I hope this stadium will be a metaphor and symbol to show that South Africa can get it right.”
"There will be more problems and much hard work ahead. Money will not rain from the sky. 2010 is not a magic wand, just a huge opportunity. We have to work hard to make the most of it," Zille said.
“The biggest challenge is public cynicism – the disbelief that we could do it. I hope this stadium will be a metaphor and symbol to show that South Africa can get it right.”